Over ACCESS

Established in 1986 ACCESS was the grass root initiative of the members of the international community in the Netherlands who felt the pressing need for an organisation that would answer their needs, provide peer support and help cope with the challenges of expatriate living.

Today ACCESS has evolved into a dynamic volunteer, not-for-profit organisation that serves the needs and interests of the international community, namely by:


providing information and guidance to the international community through our helpdesk, website and the expat centres we work from
fostering cultural diversity, facilitating connections and encouraging growth for our volunteers, and
providing services to the community through our childbirth courses, on-call Counsellors and training network.


Well into its 32nd year ACCESS has become synonymous with outstanding personalised service, empathy and insight. All ACCESS volunteers, trainers, counsellors, Dutch or international, have been expatriates themselves and know first hand what the extra hurdles are to living away from a familiar environment. They add value to what we do, and how we do it. Just as importantly, they do so voluntarily – generously giving their time, sharing their unique skills, experience and diverse cultural backgrounds.